Disco 2 best way to monitor coolant level?

berg450 · Oct 9, 2018

Update.
The sensor installed, tested (no signal when it sees water, but when i have lifted close to the top of the tank, above the water level, it gives 12V), seems to be OK!
I have wanted to test it by removing water from the expansion tank but could not do it on an easy way (I have wanted to put a hose from top but could not) so I will do it next time when I have to work on cooling system (or on something for which I have to open it).

Gazbo · Oct 10, 2018

berg450 said:
Update.
The sensor installed, tested (no signal when it sees water, but when i have lifted close to the top of the tank, above the water level, it gives 12V), seems to be OK!
I have wanted to test it by removing water from the expansion tank but could not do it on an easy way (I have wanted to put a hose from top but could not) so I will do it next time when I have to work on cooling system (or on something for which I have to open it).

All you need to do using a 1/2 metre length of 1/4 ID syphon hose and a 10 litre bucket, remove header tank cap, engine cold, carefully syphon off a small amount of the coolant, it should not effect the coolant inside the engine, check at which point the level alarm activates. If it's all functioning as it should be, just pour the coolant back in up to the correct level and away you go, alarm operation proven.

berg450 · Oct 10, 2018

Gazbo said:
All you need to do using a 1/2 metre length of 1/4 ID syphon hose and a 10 litre bucket, remove header tank cap, engine cold, carefully syphon off a small amount of the coolant, it should not effect the coolant inside the engine, check at which point the level alarm activates. If it's all functioning as it should be, just pour the coolant back in up to the correct level and away you go, alarm operation proven.

Hello, yes this is what I have wanted to do, but somehow I could not put the hose deep enough as something has blocked it after about 4cm. I have tried also a smaller one (diam 5mm) also blocked. Is there a filter build in there or I just was not "hard" enough to push the hose tru a bend?

Gazbo · Oct 10, 2018

berg450 said:
Hello, yes this is what I have wanted to do, but somehow I could not put the hose deep enough as something has blocked it after about 4cm. I have tried also a smaller one (diam 5mm) also blocked. Is there a filter build in there or I just was not "hard" enough to push the hose tru a bend?

Sorry, I'm not really sure if your D2 coolant header set up is the same as a D1 which is what I have, but I have fitted a "float type level switch" in mine and after I fitted it I was ablle to test it by syphoning out some coolant quite easily, there is no filter in the top. The design of the header bottle could be different for D2, maybe youll need to use a very small tube to get into the coolant.
I know the windscreen washer bottle on my D1 has a filter beneath the filler cap.

jamesmartin · Oct 10, 2018

berg450 said:
Update.
The sensor installed, tested (no signal when it sees water, but when i have lifted close to the top of the tank, above the water level, it gives 12V), seems to be OK!
I have wanted to test it by removing water from the expansion tank but could not do it on an easy way (I have wanted to put a hose from top but could not) so I will do it next time when I have to work on cooling system (or on something for which I have to open it).

just undo the bleed screw on top hose, unclip tank and raise it if needed

berg450 · Oct 11, 2018

jamesmartin said:
just undo the bleed screw on top hose, unclip tank and raise it if needed

This is what i did not want do do. I know it is an easy way but also will cover part of engine and floor with coolant what i do not like.

berg450 · Oct 21, 2018

Today I have raised the tank and tested the sensor by moving it manually above and below coolant level. Unfortunatelly this sensor does not seem reliable on this wall thickness. It works well when the wall thickness is about 1-2mm but the coolant tank seems to be too thick for it.
Maybe the one proposed by Fery is better. I will order one and try.

airhook · Oct 21, 2018

The BMW tank works, I've got it running on my '52 plate.
Tested the tank for 2 yrs for leaks, before wiring it up.

airhook · Oct 21, 2018

The BMW tank works, I've got it running on my '52 plate.
Tested the tank for 2 yrs for leaks, before wiring it up.

VirginDiscovery · Nov 2, 2018

airhook said:
The BMW tank works, I've got it running on my '52 plate.
Tested the tank for 2 yrs for leaks, before wiring it up.

Pics please
How did you get round the bottom hose entry? The BMW version it is canted at 45 degrees whereas on D2 it seems 90 degrees to the tank? How did you connect the sender? I've got the sender but trying to track down the right B|MW connector plug proving a challenge (part nos?).

Disco 2 best way to monitor coolant level?

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